Caitlin Clark shines with 23 points and nine assists as Indiana Fever defeats Chicago Sky 91-83. A flagrant foul on Clark and intense rivalry with Angel Reese highlight the competitive game.
Bollywood Fever: For the second consecutive meeting between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, Caitlin Clark was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul. Unlike the previous foul by Chennedy Carter, which was clearly not a basketball play, Sunday’s contact stemmed from Angel Reese‘s poor block attempt that struck Clark on the head. The referees immediately called it a flagrant foul — Reese’s first of the season — and the tightly contested game quickly resumed.
The initial matchup saw Indiana edging out Chicago by one point, and Sunday’s game was equally competitive. At the time of the flagrant foul, the Fever were leading by one. Although Chicago never reclaimed the lead, they kept the game close, cutting the deficit to three points with a Reese layup in the final minute. Clark responded with an assist to NaLyssa Smith, securing Indiana’s 91-83 win.
Postgame, there were no hard feelings as Reese had attempted a play on the ball. Fever coach Christie Sides acknowledged the officials’ correct in-game upgrade of the foul, which helped move the game along smoothly. Clark also praised her long-time rival Reese for her on-court intensity.
“The emotion and passion that we play with, I think people love to see that,” Clark said. “I think that’s maybe not something that was always appreciated in women’s sports and it should be. I think that’s what makes it fun. We’re competitors.”
Reese finished the game with five fouls, avoiding her first career foul out, and recorded 11 points and 13 rebounds, extending her double-double streak to six games, tying the rookie record.
“We were playing really hard,” Reese said about her and teammate Kamilla Cardoso’s performance in the first half. “I think we went up really strong a lot of times, and we didn’t get a lot of calls. Going back and looking at it, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made. I guess some people got a special whistle.”
Clark had one of her best games as a pro, matching her career-high of nine assists along with 23 points and eight rebounds. She made history by becoming the first player to reach 200 points, 75 rebounds, and 75 assists in their first 15 games, according to Across the Timeline.
Following the WNBA’s showcase of its premier rivalry between New York and Las Vegas, the burgeoning rivalry between Clark and Reese — and their teams, Indiana and Chicago — is making a case for being the league’s next big matchup. The Fever announced sellout crowds for both games against the Sky, and the atmosphere in Indianapolis on Sunday was electric.
Clark and Reese, former Iowa and LSU superstars, have faced each other on the biggest stages, including the 2023 national championship game and the 2024 Elite Eight, drawing record viewership. Their first professional matchup averaged 1.53 million viewers, the fourth-largest WNBA audience in two decades.
“What (Reese) has done with her platform is absolutely incredible,” Clark said. “I’ve played her for a very long time, and she’s been a tremendous player. It’s been fun getting to compete against (her). I think it’s been really good for the game. People just love seeing great matchups.”
As fans tune in for Chicago and Indiana games this season, they witness close contests and heightened competition. With both teams vying for playoff spots, the intensity is expected to remain high throughout the season.
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